The Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus hopes that Matteo Ricci and his Chinese collaborator Paul Xu Guangqi can be canonized together. This is not only in line with the modern Church's trend of cooperation between priests and lay people, but would also encourage young Chinese men to consider religious vocation and perhaps even join the Jesuits, said Fr Louis Gendron, Provincial of Chinese Province.
"It is a rare thing in Church history for a foreign missioner and his local collaborator to be proclaimed saints together," he said. The Jesuit Chinese Province began assisting the Holy See with the cause for sainthood of Father Ricci in early May. His native diocese of Macerata re-launched the process in January after it had lost some impetus following the initial phase concluded in 1985. The diocese of Shanghai, the birthplace of Xu (1562-1633) plans to begin his cause for sainthood and has urged local Catholics to pray for it.
Source: Electronic News Service SJVol. XIV, N. 12, 4 June 2010